Government backs school rebuilds

Teenagers will see their old schools replaced with new facilities

A £200m rebuilding plan for secondary schools in Leeds has been given the go-ahead by government ministers.

Education officials in the city can now develop detailed proposals for Allerton Grange, Rodillian, Pudsey, Grangefield and Allerton High.

Major refurbishments for Cockburn and Temple Moor are also planned in the first phase of the programme.

Work has started on the procurement process, with three new buildings scheduled to open by September 2008.

Second/third phase schools Crawshaw School Farnley Park High School Priesthorpe School West Leeds High School Mount St Mary's RC High School Wortley High School Intake High School Parklands Girls School Corpus Christi RC High School

A further nine schools will get new or refurbished buildings in a further two phases once plans are approved.

The government backing for the first phase of the plans has been welcomed by education chiefs and the schools involved.

Councillor Richard Harker, education spokesman, said: "Each of the six schools has worked with the council and Education Leeds to develop these exciting plans, which are tailored to enhance the schools' existing specialisms, meet their aspirations for the future and reinforce their role at the heart of their communities."

Chris Edwards, chairman of Education Leeds, said the Building Schools for Future programme would "transform" secondary education in the city.